Snow-removing apparatus



. Jul; 30, 1929.

p. FA SUL SNOW REMOVING APPARATUS Filed June 21,.1927

ATTORNEY of the character in Patented July 30, 1929.

n STAT DOMINICK FASUL, or nEwYoRK, 1v. Y.

SNOW-REMOVING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 21,

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a snow removing apparatus which heat is used to melt the snow. An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind preferably mounted upon a motor truck WlllCll will serve to direct a plurality of closely associated jets of steam into the snow, and which will maintain the discharging steam close to the ground in the form of a. blanket, so that the melting operation is complete and thorough. Preferably, the device also includes means for discharging forwardly a plurality of steam jets which will effectively cut into a drift or snow bank.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a snow removing apparatus of extremely simple, practical construction, which will be rugged and durable in use.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of this character which may be readily manipulated when in use, and readily shifted about from one place of use to another.

lVith the above noted and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a snow removing apparatus embodying the present in vention with parts of the boiler and the blanket plate of the melter broken away and in section for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken view partly in side elevation and partly in section through the melter.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail through the dryer.

In the drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to designate the chassis of a motor truck, this truck being of any suitable type and providing a cradle or other suitable supporting frame 11 for a fire boX 12 and an associated tube boiler 13. Steam generated in the boiler 13 is delivered from the steam dome to a melting apparatus on the front of the truck by a pipe 14.

Supporting the melting apparatus is a vertically disposed frame 15 rigidly mounted on the forward end of the truck and sup ported by any suitable number of braces 16.

1927. Serial No. 200,396.

Pivotally mounted in the lower end of the frame 15 is a horizontal header 17 into which the pipe 14 delivers. Connected to this header are a plurality of parallel forwardly extending steam pipes 18 arranged closely adjacent each other, and each provided with a number of downwardly facing steam discharge nipples 19 to which flexible rubber nozzles 20 may be attached. The flexible nozzles prevent damage to the apparatus when an obstruction is encountered in the road.

The steam pipes 18 are preferably covered by a blanket plate 21. which serves to prevent the discharging steam from rising directly in the air and causes substantially all of the heat in the steam to be utilized for snow melting purposes. 7

The forward end of each pipe 18 preferably terminates in a forwardly discharging steam nozzle 22. These nozzles are controlled by valves 23 which may be opened by a common operating bar 24 extending across the front of the melter and pivotally connected as at 25 to all of the valves.

Bar 24 may be conveniently manipulated from a hand lever 26 or in any other convenient or conventional manner.

The steam nozzles 22 are adapted to discharge steam directly into a snow bank or snow pile when one is encountered, while the nozzles 20 discharge steam downwardly on to the snow covered ground, melting the snow. The entire melting unit may be rotated about the header 17 as a pivot, and a chain 27 connecting the forward end of the melter and the upper portion of the frame 15 serves to retain the melter in elevated inoperative position while the apparatus is being transported,'or may be adjusted to tilt the melter in accordance with the depth of the snow to be melted.

In order to utilize all of the heat generated in the boiler, the escaping flue gases and products of combustion are passed downwardly through a pipe 30 into a relatively capacious hood or dome 31 arranged under the truck. A positive circulation of such gases may be induced by a fan 32 arranged under the dome, and operated through suitable gearing 34: and a sprocket chain 35 from a motor 36.

Preferably a special motor is arranged on the truck, although the fan might be driven from any other suitable source of power.

The hot flue gases and products of combustion forced downwardly through the dome 31 on the wet street from which the snow has been melted, will aid materially in drying the street, or in melting any small pieces of ice or the like which may haveescaped the melter. 7

Numerous changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a snow removing apparatus, a snow melting unit adapted to be mounted forwardly of a motor truck, and including a plurality of forwardly extending parallel horizontally disposed steam pipes, steam nozzles discharging downwardly from the pipes, a header connected to the rear ends of the pipes, and a plate overlying the tops of i the pipes to prevent steam from rising upwardly between them, forwardly directed steam discharge nozzles at the forward ends of the pipes, valves controlling the nozzles, and a common operating means for the valves.

2. In'a snow removing apparatus, a snow melting unit adapted to be mounted forwardly of a motor truck, and includin a plurality of forwardly extending parallel horizontally disposed steam pipes, steam nozzles discharging downwardly from the pipes, a header connected to the rear ends of the pipes, and a plate overlying the tops of lever for operating the cross bar.

DOMINICK FASUL. 

